Wax thread sewing machine



May 25, 1937.

J. J. SHEEHAN ET AL WAX THREAD SEWING MACHINES Filed Nov. 22, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 II V lg i 3 I! II x 4; 36:

[/7 Mentors; Job/7 ZS/2e aha/7, VV/l/iam PE an,

M y 1937- J. J. SHEEHAN ETAL 2,081,371

WAX THREAD SEWING MACHINES Filed Nov. 22, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet-4 Y Hllll? 119 Q 150 John J Sheehan,

.136 Fig, 16,

l l lZ/fam P153920, )2 3; ll ll by M79 May 25, 1937. I

. J. J. SHEEHAN ET A| WAX THREAD SEWING MACHIl IES Filed Nov. 22, 1932 III/111 1 1 Inventors, J Shea/7am [MY/dam PE an, @M .flttorney.

' Job/7 i needle bar in andther position.

Patented May 25, 1937 UNlTED 52,621,351 THREAD SEWING MACHINE John :1. Sheehan and wifliaiii i Egan, min,

MELSS Applieatin fiaiieiiitieia 1932, Serial No. 643,844

ing inachin'es of the waxed thread type and n ore particularly to sewing machines of the McKay type for forming a chain stitch.

The object of the invention is to provide an ii prov'ed sewing machine of the class refl gm-dfi v feature of the invention consists of a trict-ion device for the needle bar of the machine which will h ld it in position during the i iiidds of dwellofthe needlebar while other parts of the machine are 'op erating.

A second feature risists I I of a novel device'for ioperating'the cast-off and determining its posirun.

A third ieature consists of a tap giii'ding device constituting part of the horn, which will hold a tape in position withinthe shoe during the stitching operationso that said tape is sewed to the inside of the inner sole, to rein- 'is t e l tte 7 Other features' or the invention are hereinafter pointed out Referring to the drawings; M p

Figured is a side elevation of asewingmw chine constructed iii accordance with this iii vention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation bi the sa ine;

Figure 3 is a section on line 3- 3 of Fig 1 showing how the motor and driving elements are supported. A k

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the sewing machine head. j p I Figure 5 is a detail ifisid elevation of part of the work feeding" mechanis'rfz showing the adjusting device.

Figure 6 is a section on 1ine 6--6 of Fig. 9;

Figure 7 is a detail in pl'ajrrof the prin'ie iiower element of the sewing rnechanisrn.

Figure 8' is a side elevation of the sewing ina chine h ald;

Figure 9is a longitudinalsec'tionai view of the feeding and adjusting device si'iow'n in Figs. '5 and6' taken on the 1ine"9 9 of Fig. 4. X i V Figure 10 is a side eIev'a'tion of the needle bar and a cast-0 1T "mechanism.

Figure 11 is a side elevation showing the 1. Figure 12 is a side View of theiower art or the needle bar showing the cast-01f mechanism. Figure 13 is a section on line lib-l3 of Fig. 12 showingthe holding device Iorthe cast-"off bar. Figure 14 is a front elevation of the lower portion of the needle bar-showing the cast-off. Figure 15 is a section onlin'e 15 45 of Fig. 10

showing the fr ictign devices for the needle bar. fie I6 is a section on line |6l 6 of Fig, 10 mg the abutment 'for the friction device useu on the needle bar. i

Figure 1'1 is'ja section on line l'l- -l'! of Fig. 10. .F gure 18 is a partial section on line |8'-18 of ,Fig. 1'7.

Figure '19 10 and 17,

is a section on line I9--l9 of Figs.

n Figure .20 is a side elevation of thenhorn show; ing part of the driving mechanism for the threadwhir'l and also a tape-guiding device in position on saidhorn. v V

Figure 21 is a side elevation on largerscale oi the upper end of the horn with its interior exposed.

' igure.22 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the horn showing the whirl mechanism for the thread and its relation to thetape-guiding device. v

Figure 23 is a side elevation of a shoe with the horn and tape-guiding device in position therein.

Figure2 i shows the top of the horn and the tape-guiding device from another point o'fview Figure 25 is aplari view of the tape-guidin device on the top of the horn with the tape in position. I

Figure 26 is a plan View, partly in sectionbf the top or the horn with most of the tapeguiding device removed.

Figure 27' is a plan view of the top of the horn brokeri away to show the thread whirl.

The illustrated embodiment 'of the invention comprises an improvedframe l0 comprising a base I l and a head that is indicated generally at v I2. On the frame H! is a table l3 onwhich work andztools' may be, supported. Secured to the front of frame [0 adjacent totable I3 is ashoesupp neho M wh c is f 99 r te eas t work is fed onguidedto theneedle during the sewing operation. Also secured to the front of the frame is. a wax pot lithroughwhich the thread ls passes to be covered d a urated w to facilita te' the sewing oiperstion. The thread T6 is supplied frome. spool I1 supported on a shelf secured to the fi airie.

e construction of the I frame is novel inasn'iueh asitis huiit to support the various mecha ni sn'is near the center of gravity of the machine so as tbj prevent destructive vibrationffromtaking snide-aha also permit the essential floor space to he reduced to the minimum. The frame coniprises inetalflanges l8 and I9 connected by an integral ceiitrai web'zu'.

The frame in is provided with a head plate 2| and motor shelf 22 integral therewith, the web 29 being formed with a hole 23 to accommodate the motor 26 which is placed on shelf 22 as near the center of gravity of the machine and the operating parts as possible in order to minimize vibrations and floor space required. By placing the motor 24 in this position as illustrated a countershaft 29 may be placed centrally in position directly beneath said motor which is one of the advantageous featuresof the invention. I I

The motor 24 is provided with a shaft 25 on which is mounted a pulley 26 connected by a belt 21 with a relatively large pulley 23 mounted on one end of countershaft 29. Shaft 29 is journaled in a pair of vertically adjustable self-aligning bearings 39 and 3|. The bearings are cylindrical in form and are pivotedly mounted on the trunnions 32 and 33.

The lower ends of the trunnions which are indicated by the numerals 34 and 35 are mounted in vertical sockets formed in the base portion of the frame which allows said trunnions to be adjusted vertically and held in adjusted position by set screws. By this construction the bearings are placed centrally in relationto the frame as viewed in Fig. 1 and set up in alignment so as to receive the countershaft 29 and support the same in a position parallel with the motor shaft 25.

Fixed on the opposite end of the shaft 29 is a fly-wheel 36, Figs. 1 and 2, constructed to serve as one member of a friction clutch whose ad- Justable member is operated by one arm of a lever 3'! which is fulcrumed on an arm 36 integral with the fixed trunnion 33.

This clutch mechanism is of usual construction and is operated by a foot lever or pedal, not shown, connected with the other arm of lever 31. When this arm of lever 31 is swung downwardly the clutch is set and when the lever 37 is freed the clutch is unset. The adjustable member of the clutch is loosely mounted on shaft 29 and is made with a pulley 39 around which extends a belt 46 for driving the pulley-wheel 4| of the sewing machine when the clutch is set, said belt being controlled by a belt-tightener 42. The wheel 4| is mounted on a shaft 43- |4, Figs. 4, 7 and 8, carrying a gear 45, crank 46 and cam 41.

These parts 4344, 35, 46 and 41 are made in one piece and are the prime controlling members to operate the machine in definite time relation, and with the novel adjustments on the various members are a great advantage over the devices used on other types of machines.

The shaft 4394 is mounted in bearings 49 formed integral with Vertical columns 5! and 5| I which are supported by the head plate 2| forming part of the frame.

Secured to the upper ends of the columns is a top plate 52 which, with the head plate 2|, forms an inclosure in which the operating members are located. The plate 52 is also held in position on the head plate 2| by other posts so that the plates can withstand the various operating stresses to which they are subjected.

The shaft 4344 is rigidly connected with the parts 45, 46 and 41 which are formed integral and by this construction all of said parts are always in timed relation with one another and with the other moving parts of the mechanism. If the prime driving members should get out of time relation, it would destroy the working operation of the machine, and by arranging them as a unit, these members will always be in a predetermined position to facilitate the operation and maintenance of the machine.

The gear 45 drives a pinion 54, Fig. 8, mounted on a shaft 53 which runs in a bearing secured to the head plate 2|. Shaft 53 is connected with and drives the mechanism for twirling the thread around the needle when the latter enters the horn thereby to form a sewing loop of a chain stitch, said connection including shafts 50 and 5|, Fig. 1, and miter gears 58 and 59.

Gear 58 is fast on the lower end of a shaft 60, Fig. 20, mounted in bearings provided in the horn support 6|. The shaft 69 which carries gear 58 acts through a train of gearing 51, shaft 56, and beveled gears 55, to drive a shaft 62 whose upper end is formed as a beveled gear 63 which meshes with the beveled gear 64 of the thread whirl. The beveled gears 63 and 64 operate in a chamber 65 formed in the top of the horn M.

The chamber 65 is provided with a cover plate 66 which also serves as a support for the shoe during the sewing operation. The shaft 62 with the gear 63 and the whirl gear 64 have bearings in the horn and are so constructed and operated as to allow the whirl gear 64 to rotate in definite timed relation to the reciprocatory movements of a needle 61, and thread I6 is looped around the needle as usual. The gear 64 is provided with a supporting shoulder 69 and rotates in a bearing formed in the horn.

Formed in the beveled gear 64 is the needle hole 16 and an eccentrically disposed thread hole 1|.

The needle 67 occupies the exact center of gear 64*. when the whirl loops the thread around it and is:

free to move axially into and out of the gear dur-. ing the sewing operation.

As the hole rotates carrying the thread; 6 with it, it causes the thread to loop around: the needle above the hook of the latter and said loop is drawn up through the work by the needle to form a stich. The cover plate 66 is provided with a hole 72 which allows the needle to pass through in an axial direction and alsoserves for another purpose which will be taken up hereinafter. In machines of this kind plates 2| and 52 are provided with fixed hearings in which the moving devices of the stitch-forming mechanism are adapted to slide or move in performing the: sewing operation. The needle 67 is held in aneedle bar 14, Fig. 4, which has a reciprocating movement in the head plates 2| and 52 and is provided with a novel friction device which is one of the features of the invention.

In the operation of the machine it is necessary to hold the work or shoe in position on the horn. This is accomplished by a presser foot device operated by a cam on one face of gear 45 acting through a lever 15, Figs. 4 and 8. The presser foot 18 is carried by the presser bar l6'l'| which is arranged to move vertically through plates 2| and 52, the presser foot and its bar being yieldingly urged downwardly by a coiled spring 80 whose lower end bears against a collar 82 on section 16 of the bar andthe latter is adapted to be lifted by a hand lever 83 to insert or remove the work and at times is lifted automatically by lever 15.

Secured to the lower end portion '11 of the presser bar is a plate 84 having formed therein a cam slot 92 and adjacent to this plate is the feed lever 86.- This lever is adapted to slide and swing within a groove of the end portion 11 as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4 and is mounted for oscillation and endwise movement upon a stud 89 on the presser-bar and engaging the Inf-6 upper forked end 80 of the feed lever86, the lower portion of the said lever carrying the feed Ioot 90 being thus adapted'to move vertically and swing pivotally on the stud 89. To effect these feeding movements a link 9| is pivoted at 81 to the lever 85, said pivotpin 81' extending through the'cam slot 92 in the plate '84.

To operate the feed lever 86 mechanism is used which includes the cam 41, Fig. 7, having a cam slot cut in its periphery which co-operates with a roll 94 carried by rocker arm 95, Fig; 9. The

rocker arm 95 forms a part of a sleeve 88 which rocks on a fixed shaft 91.

The shaft 91 is mounted rigidly in bearings 9-3 and 99 forming a part of a bracket I00 which is Rigidly secured to bolted to the head plate 2|. the bearing .99 by a set screw is a spindle I0-I to "which is also fastened a downwardly extending 'arm I02 which is held rigidly in position thereon by a set screw. Adjustably secured to the sleeve 961s an arm I 03 to the upper end of whichiis connected one endof a rod'lli l, Fig. 4, extending transversely across the machine and having its opposite end loosely connected to the ratchet 25 foot bar that holds the work in position.

lever; I for locking and releasing the presser Formed integral with the arm I03 is a boss I05 in which is fixed a spindle I0! on which a feed lever I08 is pivotally secured.

The adjustable connection between arm I02 and the feed lever I08 which is connected by link 9| with feeder 3t constitutes one of the features of the invention by which the movements of the shoe on the horn are varied thereby to vary the length of the stitch.

To obtain a maximum range of adjustment as shown on the drawings, Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 8, the arm I02 is provided with a slot I09 within which a block I I0 is fixed with provision for adjustment by means of a pintle bolt II I on which is swivelly mounted a block II4 slidably. arranged within a slot I I5 formed in the feed lever I08. Byadjustment of the nut I I6 the bolt I I I is loosened which allows the block III) to be moved up ordown as required, but normally the nut H5 and a washer II2 grip the arm I02 which holds the block III) in a fixed position on arm I02 and allows the feed lever I 08 to be vibrated on bolt III by arm 103. When the slot in the cam 41 rocks arms 95 and I03 and imparts a swinging movement to the feed lever I08, the latter acts through link 91, Fig. 4, to operate feed member 85.

The needle bar I4 is operated by the crank 46, Fig. 7, acting through a crankembracing eccentric strap II'I, pitman I I8, walking beam I I9 and link I29, Figs. '7 and 8. The function of the walking beam H9 is to operate the needle bar I4 and to measure the thread I6. The crank 46 causes the walking beam II9 to swing on a pin I in a yoke I2 I, secured to the upper end of a slide-bar or rod I22 and at times during the operation of the mechanism this rod has imparted to it an endwise reciprocating movement to control the measurement of the thread. Mounted on the rod I22 are two stop collars I23 and I24 which limit its movement in each direction according to the thickness of the material to be sewed. In Fig. 8, the needle is at the limit of its down stroke and inside the horn. As the crank 46 raises the needle quickly from the work the cast-01f is caused to take its place over the hook of the needle to hold the thread in position therein during the upward Fig. 'l, the rod I22 is moved downwardly by beam II9, Fig. 8, until the stop I24 comes in contact with the member I'2I, Fig. 4, of suitable thread I controlling or measuring mechanism which member rests on the section II of the presser bar. As the crank 48 completes this downward movement it acts through the pitman -I I8 and walking beam H9 to raise the needle bar while the rod I22 is held against downward movement by the engagement of stop I24 with the member 121. When the crank 46; Fig. 7, swingsupwardly it acts through the pitman H8, Fig. 8, to swing walking beam H9 ina direction to lif-t'the rod I22 until the stop I23 engages the under side of the top plate 52.

During this upward movement of 5 rod I22 the needle baris held at the limit of its upward movement by the friction device shown in Figs. 10 and 15. After the stop I23 comes into engagement with the top plate 52 continued upward movement of crank 45 and pitman 148 acts through the walking beam H9 to force the needle bar downwardly, said needle bar then sliding through the frictiondevice shown in Fig. 15.

The lower end of link I29 is pivotally secured to an adjustable sleeve I30 secured rigidly to the needle bar I4 while the upper end of link I29 is pivoted at I25 to the walking beam II9.- The needle 81 is provided with a hook I 3I, Fig. 14, which receives the thread to form theloop in the stitch and is carried upwardly by the movemerit of the needle bar 14. As the needle moves upwardly from the work the loop of thread in its hook is held in position within the samebya cast-cit rod I32 which causes the preceding loop to be shed from the needle. In the operation of the needle bar thereare periods of hesitation-in its reciprocating movement, which requires; that the needle bar I4 be restrained at times to cause it to remain at rest while some of the other operations of the machine are taking place and at the same time be free to move when sufiicient power is applied tocomplete its movements. This is the purpose of the friction device of Fig. 15.

Alongside of and parallel with the needle bar is a post I34, Figs. 10 and 16, fixed rigidly at its opposite ends to the plates 2I and 52 Secured to the post I34 is a retaining clamp formed in two parts I35 and I36, Fig. 16, which are clamped rigidly to the post I34 by means of a bolt I31. the needle bar are provided with a clearance I38 as shown in Fig. 16 which allows the needle bar to move freely through the clamp. Located between the top plate 52 and the clamping members I35 and I36 is a friction device which causes i frictional grip of the pincers can be overcome when sufficient power is applied to the needle bar. I

The vertical reciprocating movement of the needle bar I4 controls the cast-off I32; This is accomplished by novel mechanism including a bracket I 5|, Figs. 10, ll, 17 and 18, which is a rigid part of post I34 and has a. hole therein adapted to receive aplunger I48. The outer end of this plunger is V-shaped and is adapted to engage a roll I4'I carried by a bracket-148 which' The ends of these two parts that embrace is free to move axially on the needle bar 14. The plunger I46, is at times moved in bracket |5I in one direction by the roll I4! and at other times in the opposite direction by a compression spring I49.

The inner end portion of the plunger I46 is formed with a flat side portion as shown at I50, Fig. 19, that is slidably engaged with a complementary fiat surface within the hole of bracket I5I to hold the plunger against rotative displacement. The plunger is free to move axially but is restrained from rotating by the bracket I 5| as described. When the needle bar moves downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 10 the roll I4! is below the outer beveled end of plunger I46 and the needle is through the work. As the needle and needle bar move upwardly the bracket I48 is bunted past plunger I46 by a collar I33 fast on the needle bar and as the needle bar descends it is bunted past plunger I46 in the opposite direction by the sleeve I36.

At the start of the upward movement of the needle bar the needle and cast-off occupy the positions shown in Fig. 14 but as the needle withdraws from the work the upward movement of the cast-off is arrested until the hook of the needle is covered whereupon the collar I33 bunts the bracket I48 past plunger I46. At the start of the downward movement of the needle bar the downward movement of the cast-off is arrested until the hook of the needle is uncovered whereupon the bracket I48 is bunted past plunger I46 by sleeve I36.

The cast-01f is fastened to the bracket I48 by a bolt I58, Fig. 13, having a transverse hole I54 formed through its shank adapted to receive the upper end of the cast-off rod 82. The bolt l58 extends through a hole in the bracket I48 and the cast-ofi rod I32 is clamped against the inside of the bracket I48 by means of a nut I5! on bolt I58. Adjacent to bracket E48 the needle bar is recessed or cut away to accommodate the inner end of bolt I58 and permit longitudinal movement thereof and this recess communicates with a longitudinal groove I55 in which the cast-01f rod I32 is slidably mounted. A collar I44 fixed in position upon the lower end of the needle bar I4 holds the cast-off rod within groove I55.

When the inner sole of the shoe is broken, or without suiiicient strength to support the sewing, a neenforcing member is provided in the nature of a tape I45 fed from a suitable source into a guide I60, Figs. 20 to 26, while the horn is inside the shoe during the sewing operation. This tape reenforces the inner sole sufficiently to hold the sewing and save the shoe. As the horn I4 is free to rotate the tape guide must always remain in a fixed position relatively to the direction of feed independent of the movement of the horn. The guide I59 is made with a bottom wall I60 and parallel inturned oppositely disposed side walls I6I and I 62 which guide the tape as it is sewed to the inner face of the innersole of the shoe. To prevent the tape guide from turning during the rotation of the horn, it is rotatably mounted on the horn directly in line with the needle. To allow the needle to pass through the guide, a hole I63 is provided through the latter which is extended into a skirt I64 which under-laps the side wall of the hole I2 in the cover plate 66 of the horn through which the needle is free to pass. By this construction the tape guide can be positioned axially in line with the needle and loosely fitted in the horn thus allowing the tape to be sewed to the sole of the shoe and permitting the guide tobe held against rotating relatively to the shoe by the tension on the tape and by the frictional engagement between the guide and innersole.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letter Patent in the United States is:-

1. A sewing machine having, in combination, a work support; a needle bar equipped with a needle and reciprocable toward and from said work support, and means for reciprocating said needle bar so as to cause it to dwell at the limit of its movement toward and from said work support for a predetermined length of time, said means comprising a walking beam whereof one arm is connected with said needle bar, a vertically movable support for the fulcrum of said walking beam, stops to limit the movement of said support in each direction independently of the work support, and driving mechanism connected with the other arm of said walking beam for vibrating the latter to cause it to alternately reciprocate said needle bar and said support.

2. A sewing machine having, in combination, a work support; a needle bar equipped with a needle and reciprocable toward and from said work support; means for reciprocating said needle bar so as to cause it to dwell at the limit of its movement toward and from said work support for a predetermined length of time, said means comprising a walking beam whereof one arm is connected with said needle bar, a vertically movable support for the fulcrum of said walking beam, stops to limit the movement of said support in each direction; driving mechanism connected with the other arm of said walking beam for vibrating the latter to cause it to alternately reciprocate said needle bar and said support, and a friction device engaging said needle bar to yieldingly oppose movement thereof.

3. A sewing machine constructed in accordance with claim 2 wherein said friction device consists of a pair of pincer-like lever arms embracing said needle bar and a spring connecting said lever arms so as to cause the latter to frictionally grip the needle bar.

4. A sewing machine having, in combination, a work support; a needle bar equipped with a needle and reciprocable toward and from said work support and means for reciprocating said needle bar so as to cause it to dwell at the limit of its movement toward and from said work support for a predetermined length of time, said means comprising a walking beam whereof one arm is connected with said needle bar, a vertically movable support for the fulcrum. of said walking beam, stops to limit the movement of said support in each direction, a continuously rotating driving element connected with the other arm of said walking beam for vibrating the latter to cause it to alternately reciprocate said needle bar and said support, and means for frictionally and yieldingly opposing movement of said needle bar under the influence of said walking beam.

5. A sewing machine constructed in accordance with claim 4 wherein said frictional means 6. A sewing machine constructed in accordance with claim 4 wherein said frictional means comprises a pair of crossed pincer-like lever arms having proximate end portions embracing and frictionally engaging said needle bar at opposite 7 sides thereof and including a spring under tension connecting said proximate end portions so as to hold the latter against said needle bar, the opposite end portions of said lever arms embracing a fixed portion of the frame of the machine, and also including abutments on the frame of the machine for holding said pincer-like lever arms against movement with the needle bar when the latter is reciprocated.

'7. A sewing machine of the character described having, in combination, a work support; a needle bar carrying a needle and reciprocable toward and from said work support; a cast-off slidably and frictionally mounted on'said needle bar so that it can slide relatively thereto to a limited extent; a spring pressed plunger disposed in the v path of a portion of said cast-off past which said portion is moved when said cast-off moves with said needle bar, said spring pressed plunger engaging said portion during each stroke of the needle bar thereby to adjust the cast-off relatively to the needle bar in timed relation with respect to the movements of the needle into and out of the work.

8. In a sewing machine of the character described in combination, a horn for supporting the shoe; a needle bar equipped with a needle and reciprocable toward and from. said horn; a thread whirl within said horn for looping the thread around said needle; means for operating said whirl, and means on the top of said horn for guiding an innersole reenforcing tape into position to be sewed to the lowermost side of the innersole of the shoe as the sewing operation progresses.

9. A sewing machine of the character described constructed in accordance with claim 8 wherein said last-mentioned means consists of a tape guide mounted upon the top of said horn.

10. A sewing machine of the character described constructed in accordance with claim 8 wherein said last-mentioned means consists of a tape guiding member rotatively mounted upon the top of said horn so as to turn on an axis approximately coincident with the axis of the needle when the latter is projected into the Work,

said guide being formed with a needle aperture coincident with said axis.

11. A machine of the character described hav: ing in combination a horn for supporting a shoe; a thread looping whirl rotatably mounted within said horn; means for operating said whirl, and a guide on the top of said horn for directing an innersole reenforcing tape into the path of said needle between said whirl and the lowermost side of the innersole.

12. A sewing machine of the character described constructed in accordance with claim 11 wherein said tape guide is made with a needle aperture surrounded by a sleeve that is rotatably mounted in the needle hole of the horn.

JOHN J. SHEEHAN. WILLIAM F. EGAN. 

